Childcare Options
What childcare solution do I need?
There are many different solutions for different childcare needs - At Network 0 to 5 we take the time to listen to your circumstances and your needs. Working within your budget and discussing your lifestyle and time scales we can advise you on all aspects of childcare. Because of our long background in childcare recruitment we have probably dealt with, and advised, on any sort of childcare requirement you could come across!We have detailed below the main types of home based childcare that we can help with, use the quick links on the left to the relevant information, or scroll down the page.
Nannies
If you need a person to take sole charge of your children on a regular basis we would always recommend a qualified and/or experienced nanny. A qualified nanny will have successfully completed a recognised childcare course. A qualified and experienced nanny will already have held a position as a nanny or a nursery nurse - they will have had sole charge experience and can provide good references from previous employers. Newly qualified nannies are often given sole charge responsibility but this may depend on the age and numbers of children to be cared for and also the nanny's level of confidence and experience. An experienced (but unqualified) nanny may not possess any formal childcare qualifications but is likely to be mature and confident with may years sole charge experience backed up with good references from previous employers.You would expect a nanny to take complete care of your children and also be responsible for everything associated with the children (i.e. the children's washing, ironing, cooking, shopping, keeping the children's room clean and general tidying up after themselves). A nanny would not normally do any other housework except that connected with the children so any other duties would have to be negotiated separately.
Nannies can be daily or live in, full time or part time (even just a few hours or a single day) and permanent or temporary. For more information on what different childcare qualifications mean, visit our Qualifications section.
Mother's helps
If you're looking for general childcare help and an extra pair of hands around the house and you're going to be around most of the time, a mother's help may be the best option. Mother’s Helps can take many forms - they may even be an experienced/qualified nanny who is very happy to work alongside a parent and/or take sole charge plus household duties - or they might be someone who is looking to start a career in childcare, possibly without formal childcare qualifications but will have gained experience with children through nursery or baby sitting work. An experienced mother's help will have gained enough on-the-job experience to be able to take sole charge and work unsupervised. You would expect a mother's help to assist with the general housework, not just that connected with the child.Mother’s helps can be daily or live in, full time or part time (even just a few hours or a single day) and permanent or temporary.
Nanny/Housekeepers
Nanny/Housekeepers will take charge of the complete running of the household (cleaning, laundry, shopping, errands and cooking) and also be involved in the care of the children usually on a part time basis (i.e. after school & holiday care)Housekeepers can be daily or live in, full time or part time (even just a few hours or a single day) and permanent or temporary.
Before and/or After School care
Sometimes seen as one of the more difficult requirements to solve and one in which we have a great deal of experience! A lot may depend on the total sum of your requirements. If you need before and after school care, full time childcare during all school holidays and half terms, standby care in case of emergencies and possibly some element of housekeeping then it may be possible to incorporate all this to produce a reasonable salary level and style of job that may well appeal to certain nannies. We tend to find that nannies interested in this kind of position may well be older or maybe involved in some other training, work or activity that they can pursue while the children are at school.If you just need very part time out of school care then again it is possible - it may be that the small amount of work you are offering may well link up with some other part time work the nanny has, or it may be suitable for a teaching assistant or similar or possibly a nanny with her own child or an older semi-retired person who only wants part time work with a low level of hours.
Maternity Nannies
Maternity Nannies may not be qualified nurses but may typically hold an OCN Maternity Practitioner Award. A maternity nanny can be a trained and experienced nanny with a great deal of experience in the care of newborn babies. A maternity nanny is suitable for sole charge of the baby but can also work along side the mother, offering support and advice. The position is usually residential with either 12 or 24 hour call, 5 or 6 days a week for usually up to 6 weeks. But we have maternity nannies who are also happy to consider much shorter bookings and can offer more flexibility on hours/days/nights that may be required.Nanny Share
With part time employment on the increase sharing a nanny with another family is becoming increasingly common. Nanny sharing can provide an affordable, very cost effective solution to the childcare dilemma. The arrangement normally involves a daily nanny and there are many possible combinations. The nanny can be based in one house or alternate between the two, or two part-time parents could take it in turns to use the nanny.Sharing a nanny can significantly reduce costs - even though you may find that nannies may expect a higher wage than they would working for one family due to the added responsibilities and work involved. It's important that you and the other family have similar ideas on childcare and you both need to think about all the likely contingencies to ensure a smooth, trouble free working arrangement. For more information on all aspects of nanny sharing (including PAYE) visit our Nanny Sharing section
Nannies with own child
We have many nannies registered who have many years of formal childcare experience and who now have a child of their own. These nannies very often look for part time (or full time) positions that will allow them to bring their own child with them to work (either all the time or just on occasions). This can be a good childcare solution in many cases but its feasibility may depend on the ages and numbers of children involved. Salaries for these nannies are often quite negotiable.Holiday Cover
Nannies or Mother’s helps for temporary work over school holidays or half terms are very often ex nannies who are now in teaching, teacher training or other further education and therefore free over these times.Emergency/Temporary Childcare
If your existing childcare arrangements break down.. e.g. your nanny's ill or of you suddenly find yourself in the position of needing childcare or an extra pair of hands then we can help. We have a database of experienced childcare staff who we can call on in the case of a request for emergency childcare. (the availability of such nannies can vary and may depend on location/amount of notice etc.)If you are also registered with the Network 0 to 5 Baby Sitting Service you have a a priority fast track access to this service.
Proxy Parents
Proxy parents work on an ad hoc basis for parents who are away. The child carer takes complete 24 hour responsibility for the house and the children and will care for the children during the day and sleep over.Baby Sitters
Network 0 to 5 Baby Sitters are typically nannies, nursery nurses, teachers and childminders who are registered with us to undertake extra hours. They are available evenings and weekends - either in your own home or at different venues e.g. hotels/weddings/family occasions etc. For more information on our Baby Sitting Services, click here.
